Soccer

D.C. United upends Colorado

Dwayne De Rosario scored in the first half and Hamdi Salihi added his first goal at RFK Stadium in the second to help D.C. United beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Wednesday night.

United (6-4-3) is undefeated in six home games after opening the season with a 1-0 loss to Kansas City. Matt Pickens made eight saves for the Rapids (5-6-0). They went 1-2 on a three-game trip.

Vancouver, Toronto tie

Second-half substitute Eric Hassli volleyed in a long cross from Alain Rochat in extra time to give the host Vancouver Whitecaps a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC in the first leg of the Canadian Championship final.

The second game in the total-goals series is next Wednesday night in Toronto. The series winner will represent Canada in CONCACAF Champions League play.

Ryan Johnson scored for Toronto.

NFL

Brees critical of Saints

Drew Brees says he's frustrated by a lack of communication with the New Orleans Saints in his ongoing contract negotiations and believes the club should show more urgency to get a long-term deal done.

In an interview with WWL radio in New Orleans, Brees said he could miss the Saints' first organized offseason practices next week. He raised the possibility of missing minicamp in June and even training camp if he hasn't received a long-term extension that he believes is appropriate.

Brees said his negotiating position is reasonable and that the bounty scandal has made this offseason a very important one for the Saints.

Arbitrator hears arguments

Arbitrator Shyam Das heard arguments from NFL and players union lawyers on whether commissioner Roger Goodell can discipline players for actions that occurred before the league's current labor agreement was signed last August.

The hearing, which stemmed from the NFL's bounty investigation of the New Orleans Saints, lasted more than two hours.

A separate arbitration hearing into whether Goodell has the authority to impose penalties on Saints players who participated in the team's bounty system is set for May 30.

Browns' Taylor has surgery

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor underwent surgery to repair a torn chest muscle he injured while lifting weights. Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Taylor would need "months, not weeks" to recover but would not rule him out for this season.

Seau's garage burglarized

A thief burglarized the garage of Junior Seau's home in Oceanside, Calif., days after the former NFL star's suicide, police said. The crook took a $500 bicycle, but it has since been recovered.

Also, a San Diego restaurant opened by Seau in 1996 has closed its doors.

Jolly given 'shock' probation

Former NFL defensive end Johnny Jolly was given 10 years of "shock" probation by a Houston judge, just six months after he was sentenced to prison for violating terms of his probation for a drug conviction. Jolly, 29, is serving an indefinite suspension from the NFL. His contract with the Green Bay Packers ran out after the 2011 season.

Tennis

Federer, Serena advance

Roger Federer of Switzerland, seeking to win one of only three Masters 1000 events he's never claimed, beat Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 in his opening match at the Italian Open in Rome. Rafael Nadal of Spain beat Florian Mayer of Germany 6-1, 7-5.

In women's play, American Serena Williams rallied past Nadia Petrova of Russia 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to extend her winning streak to 15 matches. Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus routed Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-2, then withdrew with a shoulder injury.

College football

Notre Dame player charged

Prosecutors in South Bend., Ind., charged Notre Dame linebacker Carlo Calabrese with a misdemeanor count of intimidation for allegedly making threatening remarks to a police officer after quarterback Tommy Rees was arrested near an off-campus party.

Track and field

Gatlin, Jeter triumph

Justin Gatlin of the United States won the 100 meters in 9.93 seconds at a meet in Daegu, South Korea.

American sprinter Carmelita Jeter won the women's 100 in 11.11 seconds.

Elsewhere

• Kenny Dalglish's second stint as Liverpool manager ended when he was fired after the club's eighth-place finish in the English Premier League.

• Slovakia cyclist Peter Sagan raced to his fourth straight stage victory in the Tour of California in Clovis to increase his overall lead to 16 seconds.

• Roberto Ferrari of Italy sprinted to his first Grand Tour stage victory in the 11th and longest leg of the Giro d'Italia in Montecatini Terme, while Joaquin Rodriguez of Spain retained the overall lead.

• Flyweight Marlen Esparza from Houston has become the first American female boxer to qualify for the London Olympics.

Seattle Times news services